Clarke : Notes on Birds in Dutch Brabant. 



103 



most beautiful and compact structure, composed outwardly of fine 

 moss, and lined with the finest grey animal down, so finely inter - 

 woven as to resemble felt. 



Longtailed Titmouse. — The species found in Holland, of which we 

 obtained numerous beautiful nests and eggs, is not of the same 

 species as that inhabiting Britain, but may be distinguished from 

 it by the ever-present white head of the mature bird. In Sharp 

 and Dresser's " Birds of Europe," the name given to this species, 

 which has occurred twice in England, is Acredida caudata ; whilst 

 the British species, which is not yet known to have occurred in 

 Europe, is given the name of A. rosea. We examined several 

 birds caught on the nest, and considered that the snow-white head 

 made this a much handsomer bird than his British cousin. 



Pied Wagtail {Kwickdaart). 



White Wagtail. — More common than the pied species. Three nests 

 with eggs obtained, all of which were thoroughly identified by 

 watching the bird to the nest, and in one instance the old bird was 

 caught on the nest. All the nests were placed in stacked sticks, 

 in villages, and were loose in structure, ,and composed of bents, 

 a small quantity of heather, and numerous feathers ; number of 

 eggs, five. 



Blue-headed Wagtail {Gele Ktoichstaart). — A beautiful bird, rivalling 

 our grey wagtail — superiority of colour making up for what is 

 lost in form. Two pairs were observed on the 10th at a few yards 

 distance. In the male the blue head and intense yellow of the 

 breast make him a fine fellow. The female resembles him, but is 

 not so bright in colour. 



Yellow Wagtail. — Common. A nest found on the 17th contained a 

 cuckoo's egg. 



Tree Pipit. 



Meadow Pipit. 



Skylark {Be Leuwerick). 



^Woodlark (Boom leuwerick, Loittentoit). — Plentiful. Conspicuous on 

 the wing by its short tail, broad wings, and pleasant song. Several 

 nests were found. 



Yellow- Hammer, 



